For local golfers the sun couldn’t be shining any more brightly amid COVID-19 as cluBarham Golf & Sports Club has kept golfers on par with overarching COVID-19 government regulations since the pandemic came into play. 

With restrictions relaxing a little now, and add to that the glorious weather, the course is up for the challenge for all golfers.

Now months after, restrictions for players on course have been lifted gradually, the course is picture perfect and even on these chilly mornings, you will find the keenest of keen golfers out to play. 

Members are turning out in droves since the onset of COVID-19 restrictions easing and the return of non-members to the magnificent course is certainly positive news for the club and the community.

The cluBarham Golf & Sports Club Manager Tony Freeman spoke on the influx of golf members to the course over recent times and how recent updates on restrictions is making life on the golf links a more enjoyable one.

“Since March we’d had members only and no non-members playing the course, which has been interesting times, but on the other side we have had more members participate in golf than we had previously to COVID-19, many more members.

“Our competition days being Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday have seen markedly greater numbers than they were previous to COVID and it’s great to see.  

“We just hope this continues now that we are open to the public again with people able to travel. It gets the public back on the course and if we maintain the member numbers, we would be very pleased with that.

“The maximum two people in a group was difficult and now back at four is tangible and the fact that we are going from greater than 10 people soon will make it a lot easier to manage the course and maintain all the required distancing. The last thing we don’t know is, if and when, we can go back to two people in a golf cart.

“We have had greenkeepers and an enormous amount of volunteer work on the course and it has come up a treat due to everybody’s efforts.

“Last week’s rain was perfect although we closed the course for the day because we didn’t want the carts on it and since then it has responded well.

“The phone hasn’t stopped ringing for bookings for months out to October to November and the uptake for the Queen’s Birthday weekend. Both resort accommodation and caravans are expecting to be heavily booked.

“We are keeping the pins in, no rakes in the bunkers, no nearest the pins until further notice.

The club’s competitions have been in place most of the time, although, they had a short break on the COVID-19 fall out early in the piece.

The clubhouse had been closed to the members up until last week. It had just been ‘play a game and leave’ situation, but now is open with limited hours in place and distancing measures in place.

“We have shifted one of our big tournaments from May to November successfully, still heavily booked. 

“We have two tournaments coming up and waiting further news about these. They are the Annual Tournament and the Border Open Pro Am – in July and September.

“The club is awfully pleased with the support we’ve had from the membership, it has been terrific.

“A normal membership is $520 a year. Green fees are $40 for 18 holes and cart hire reduced to $20 until we go back to 2 people in a cart."

The club has a strong junior program with dedicated trainers with Sunday sessions and these will return when possible.

“There seems to be a real focus on golf now and let’s hope it continues and gets going...”

It was an early start for member’s Bruce Wenham and Dennis Thompson on the course, both loving the social aspect and of course the love of the game.

“It’s beautiful, it’s been a while. The weather is perfect,” said Dennis. “We catch up twice a week on a Tuesday and on Friday.  My golf is going a lot better than what it used to. 

“It’s great to be out in the open again especially in this weather,” said Dennis.

For Bruce the same thoughts across the board.

“It’s really good to be out on the course. It really wasn’t closed for that long. I wasn’t allowed to travel from Boort for a short period of time, but now can and it is fantastic! It’s the best weather too!”

You will see Member’s Rick McKenzie, Ken and Pauline Jones frequent the course many times during the week.

“It’s very good to still be able to play. I’m a member here so have been sneaking out here right through really.

“We play three times a week on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday in our small group,” said Rick. “I just like getting out here and enjoying the fresh air, the company and the exercise.”

For Ken and wife Pauline, golf is their life in retirement.

“When two only were allowed earlier in the piece, Pauline and I would come out and play. 

“We are retired now and it’s the only other sport we play other than going fishing, which we can also do now.

“It’s a magnificent course, we just love it here,” said Ken.

 “It’s great exercise and great company. We are really happy with the staff, they do a magnificent job,” said Pauline.